Friday, March 20, 2020

Bill shared a list of who and what you can be praying for as we all cope with craziness stemming from the COVID- 19 outbreak.

Bill: Time for little F, S P focused specific prayer. Want to give you some ideas for prayer. You've got time. You're spending a little more time at home. Let's do a little less worrying, a little more praying. This appeared in Christianity today magazine, Christianitytoday.com. I thought it was really good. This writer, Jen Pollock, Michelle.

She says, I wish I could say it was my first impulse to pray when we go through something like what we're going through right now, but I have to honestly probably say that I've obsessively refreshed my feeds, and that's been my first impulse. The crisis is urgent and I feel powerless, but maybe feeling small is the best reminder to pray.

Pray. Because we need to actively practice our faith just simply and consistently acknowledging that God has the whole world in his hands. When we let petitions and praises shape our prayers, it checks our worries and it lets God know about our concerns. So she put together a list of 20 specific prayers.

I'm going to run these things down. Number one for the sick and infected. For vulnerable populations. Obviously. Number two, third for the young and strong God, give them the necessary caution to keep them from unwittingly spreading the disease, inspire them to help. That's a prayer for our teenagers, our 20 somethings to be a part of the solution.

Number four, for our local state and federal government officials, you know, we can sit back and criticize them all day long, but they have a lot riding on their shoulders. Every, every decision is weighty.

Carmen: And they have to make decisions, so we might as well be praying for them to make the right one.

Bill: Right.

Number five for our scientific community, leading the charge to understand this disease and communicate its gravity, God give them knowledge and wisdom and a persuasive voice where it's needed. Number six for the media. Committed to providing up to date information. God helped them to communicate with appropriate seriousness without causing panic.

Number seven, for consumers of media, hello, looking to be well informed. God help us find the most helpful information to be good neighbors, but keep us from anxiety and panic and enable us to implement strategies even if it costs us something. Number eight. For those with mental health challenges who feel isolated, anxious, and helpless.

God provide them the necessary support. Number nine, for the homeless, unable to practice the protocols of social distancing in the shelter system, protect them from disease, and provide isolation shelters in every city. Number 10 for international travelers stuck in foreign countries. 11 for Christian missionaries throughout the world.

12 for workers in a variety of industries that are facing layoffs and financial hardship. 13 for families with young children at home for the foreseeable future. Can I get an amen? God help mothers and fathers to partner together to creatively care for and for the flourishing of their children, for single moms and dads to grow their networks of support.

14 for parents who can't stay home from work but need to find care for their children. 15 for those in need of regular therapies and treatments that now must be postponed. 16 for business leaders making difficult decisions that affect the lives of their employees. God give them help to lead self sacrificially.

17 for pastors and church leaders faced with the challenges. Of social distancing 18 for college and university students whose courses of study are changing, placements canceled, graduation uncertain, God, show them that while their future may be uncertain to them, their trust can be in you. For Christians in every neighborhood, community and city.

And finally, for front line health care workers, we thank you God for their vocational call to serve. And we also pray that you keep them safe. And healthy. Keep their families safe. Give them the knowledge they need. Help them to stay clear minded, free them from anxiety, give them compassion for their patients, provide for them financially, and help Christians in healthcare to exhibit extraordinary peace so that many would ask the reason for their hope.

Give them opportunities to proclaim the gospel. 20 focused specific prayers during this time that we're all living through together.